Patents by Inventor Mark A. Horowitz

Mark A. Horowitz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9405678
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit operable to transmit a timing signal over a first wire to a DRAM. The DRAM receives a first signal having a balanced number of logical zero-to-one transitions and one-to-zero transitions and samples the first signal at a rising edge of the timing signal to produce a respective sampled value. The device further includes a receiver circuit to receive the respective sampled value from the DRAM over a plurality of wires separate from the first wire. In a first mode, the transmitter circuit repeatedly transmits incrementally offset versions of the timing signal to the DRAM until sampled values received from the DRAM change from a logical zero to a logical one or vice versa; and in a second mode, it transmits write data over the plurality of wires to the DRAM according to a write timing offset generated based on the sampled values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Jared LeVan Zerbe, Kevin S. Donnelly, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Donald C. Stark, Mark A. Horowitz, Leung Yu, Roxanne Vu, Jun Kim, Bruno W. Garlepp, Tsyr-Chyang Ho, Benedict Chung-Kwong Lau
  • Publication number: 20160218895
    Abstract: A high-speed signaling system with adaptive transmit pre-emphasis. A transmit circuit has a plurality of output drivers to output a first signal onto a signal path. A receive circuit is coupled to receive the first signal via the signal path and configured to generate an indication of whether the first signal exceeds a threshold level. A first threshold control circuit is coupled to receive the indication from the receive circuit and configured to adjust the threshold level according to whether the first signal exceeds the threshold level. A drive strength control circuit is coupled to receive the indication from the receive circuit and configured to adjust a drive strength of at least one output driver of the plurality of output drivers according to whether the first signal exceeds the threshold level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Stojanovic, Andrew C. Ho, Anthony Bessios, Fred F. Chen, Elad Alon, Mark A. Horowitz
  • Patent number: 9337992
    Abstract: A system and method for performing clock and data recovery. The system sets the phase of a recovered clock signal according to at least three estimates of the rate of change of an offset between the frequency of the data transmitter clock and the frequency of a receiver clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: RAMBUS INC.
    Inventors: Hae-Chang Lee, Thomas H. Greer, III, Jade M. Kizer, Brian S. Leibowitz, Mark A. Horowitz
  • Patent number: 9323711
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including an output driver. The integrated circuit device includes a first register to store a value representative of a drive strength setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the drive strength setting. The integrated circuit device also includes a second register to store a value representative of an equalization setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the equalization setting. The integrated circuit device further includes a third register to store a value representative of a slew rate setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the slew rate setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Publication number: 20160098354
    Abstract: Volatile memory devices corresponding to a first memory hierarchy may be on a first memory module that is coupled to a memory controller by a first signal path. A nonvolatile memory device corresponding to a second memory hierarchy may be on a second memory module that is coupled to the first memory module by a second signal path. Memory transactions for the nonvolatile memory device may be transferred from the memory controller to the first memory hierarchy using the first signal path, and data associated with an accumulation of the memory transactions may be written from the first memory hierarchy to the second memory hierarchy using the second signal path and a first and second control signal. The first control signal may be generated in view of a detection of wear and the second control signal may be generated in view of a detection of a defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Craig Hampel, Mark Horowitz
  • Patent number: 9287909
    Abstract: A high-speed signaling system with adaptive transmit pre-emphasis. A transmit circuit has a plurality of output drivers to output a first signal onto a signal path. A receive circuit is coupled to receive the first signal via the signal path and configured to generate an indication of whether the first signal exceeds a threshold level. A first threshold control circuit is coupled to receive the indication from the receive circuit and configured to adjust the threshold level according to whether the first signal exceeds the threshold level. A drive strength control circuit is coupled to receive the indication from the receive circuit and configured to adjust a drive strength of at least one output driver of the plurality of output drivers according to whether the first signal exceeds the threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Stojanovic, Andrew C. Ho, Anthony Bessios, Fred F. Chen, Elad Alon, Mark A. Horowitz
  • Publication number: 20160071608
    Abstract: Control logic within a memory control component outputs first and second memory read commands to a memory module at respective times, the memory module having memory components disposed thereon. Interface circuitry within the memory control component receives first read data concurrently from a first plurality of the memory components via a first plurality of data paths, respectively, in response to the first memory read command, and receives second read data concurrently from a second plurality of the memory components via a second plurality of data paths, respectively, in response to the second memory read command, the first plurality of the memory components including at least one memory component not included in the second plurality of the memory components and vice-versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Gary B. Bronner, Brent S. Haukness, Mark A. Horowitz, Mark D. Kellam, Fariborz Assaderaghi
  • Publication number: 20160062100
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward optics and imaging. As may be implemented with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes one or more phase masks that operate with an objective lens and a microlens array to alter a phase characteristic of light travelling in a path from a specimen, through the objective lens and microlens array and to a photosensor array. Using this approach, the specimen can be imaged with spatial resolution characteristics provided via the altered phase characteristic, which can facilitate construction of an image with enhanced resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Noy Cohen, Marc S. Levoy, Michael J. Broxton, Logan Grosenick, Samuel Yang, Aaron Andalman, Karl A. Deisseroth, Mark A. Horowitz
  • Patent number: 9274892
    Abstract: A memory system includes a link having at least one signal line and a controller. The controller includes at least one transmitter coupled to the link to transmit first data, and a first error protection generator coupled to the transmitter. The first error protection generator dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the first data. At least one receiver is coupled to the link to receive second data. A first error detection logic determines if the second data received by the controller contains at least one error and, if an error is detected, asserts a first error condition. The system includes a memory device having at least one memory device transmitter coupled to the link to transmit the second data. A second error protection generator coupled to the memory device transmitter dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Frederick A. Ware
  • Publication number: 20160026599
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit including an output driver. The integrated circuit device includes a first register to store a value representative of a drive strength setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the drive strength setting. The integrated circuit device also includes a second register to store a value representative of an equalization setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the equalization setting. The integrated circuit device further includes a third register to store a value representative of a slew rate setting associated with the transmitter circuit such that the output driver outputs data in accordance with the slew rate setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Mark A. Horowitz, Craig E. Hampel, Alfredo Moncayo, Kevin S. Donnelly, Jared L. Zerbe
  • Patent number: 9244179
    Abstract: An integrated circuit in a PET imaging system with a plurality of photo detectors is provided. A plurality of differential transimpedance amplifiers with differential inputs and differential outputs is provided, wherein differential inputs for each differential transimpedance amplifier of the plurality of differential transimpedance amplifiers are electrically connected to a photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Frances W. Y. Lau, Craig Steven Levin, Mark A. Horowitz, Hwang Ho Choi, Jaeha Kim
  • Publication number: 20160011973
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit operable to transmit a timing signal over a first wire to a DRAM. The DRAM receives a first signal having a balanced number of logical zero-to-one transitions and one-to-zero transitions and samples the first signal at a rising edge of the timing signal to produce a respective sampled value. The device further includes a receiver circuit to receive the respective sampled value from the DRAM over a plurality of wires separate from the first wire. In a first mode, the transmitter circuit repeatedly transmits incrementally offset versions of the timing signal to the DRAM until sampled values received from the DRAM change from a logical zero to a logical one or vice versa; and in a second mode, it transmits write data over the plurality of wires to the DRAM according to a write timing offset generated based on the sampled values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jared LeVan Zerbe, Kevin S. Donnelly, Stefanos Sidiropoulos, Donald C. Stark, Mark A. Horowitz, Leung Yu, Roxanne Vu, Jun Kim, Bruno W. Garlepp, Tsyr-Chyang Ho, Benedict Chung-Kwong Lau
  • Publication number: 20160004597
    Abstract: A memory system includes a link having at least one signal line and a controller. The controller includes at least one transmitter coupled to the link to transmit first data, and a first error protection generator coupled to the transmitter. The first error protection generator dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the first data. At least one receiver is coupled to the link to receive second data. A first error detection logic determines if the second data received by the controller contains at least one error and, if an error is detected, asserts a first error condition. The system includes a memory device having at least one memory device transmitter coupled to the link to transmit the second data. A second error protection generator coupled to the memory device transmitter dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Frederick A. Ware
  • Publication number: 20150378817
    Abstract: A memory system includes a link having at least one signal line and a controller. The controller includes at least one transmitter coupled to the link to transmit first data, and a first error protection generator coupled to the transmitter. The first error protection generator dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the first data. At least one receiver is coupled to the link to receive second data. A first error detection logic determines if the second data received by the controller contains at least one error and, if an error is detected, asserts a first error condition. The system includes a memory device having at least one memory device transmitter coupled to the link to transmit the second data. A second error protection generator coupled to the memory device transmitter dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Frederick A. Ware
  • Publication number: 20150378818
    Abstract: A memory system includes a link having at least one signal line and a controller. The controller includes at least one transmitter coupled to the link to transmit first data, and a first error protection generator coupled to the transmitter. The first error protection generator dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the first data. At least one receiver is coupled to the link to receive second data. A first error detection logic determines if the second data received by the controller contains at least one error and, if an error is detected, asserts a first error condition. The system includes a memory device having at least one memory device transmitter coupled to the link to transmit the second data. A second error protection generator coupled to the memory device transmitter dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Frederick A. Ware
  • Publication number: 20150355964
    Abstract: A memory system includes a link having at least one signal line and a controller. The controller includes at least one transmitter coupled to the link to transmit first data, and a first error protection generator coupled to the transmitter. The first error protection generator dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the first data. At least one receiver is coupled to the link to receive second data. A first error detection logic determines if the second data received by the controller contains at least one error and, if an error is detected, asserts a first error condition. The system includes a memory device having at least one memory device transmitter coupled to the link to transmit the second data. A second error protection generator coupled to the memory device transmitter dynamically adds an error detection code to at least a portion of the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Ely K. Tsern, Mark A. Horowitz, Frederick A. Ware
  • Patent number: 9202572
    Abstract: In response to detecting an event during operation of an integrated-circuit memory device containing charge-storing memory cells, an electric current is enabled to flow through a word line coupled to the charge-storing memory cells for a brief interval to heat the charge-storing memory cells to an annealing temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Gary B. Bronner, Brent S. Haukness, Mark A. Horowitz, Mark D. Kellam, Fariborz Assaderaghi
  • Patent number: 9195602
    Abstract: A memory system is disclosed comprising a memory controller and a first set of volatile memory devices defining a first memory hierarchy. The first set of volatile memory devices are disposed on at least one first memory module, which is coupled to the memory controller in a daisy-chained configuration. A first integrated circuit buffer device is included on the module. The system has a second set of nonvolatile memory devices defining a second memory hierarchy. The second set of nonvolatile memory devices are disposed on at least one second memory module, which is coupled to the at least one first memory module in a daisy-chained configuration. The second module includes a second integrated circuit buffer device. The system is configured such that signals transmitted between the memory controller and the second memory hierarchy pass through the first memory hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Hampel, Mark Horowitz
  • Publication number: 20150326848
    Abstract: Various approaches to imaging involve selecting directional and spatial resolution. According to an example embodiment, images are computed using an imaging arrangement to facilitate selective directional and spatial aspects of the detection and processing of light data. Light passed through a main lens is directed to photosensors via a plurality of microlenses. The separation between the microlenses and photosensors is set to facilitate directional and/or spatial resolution in recorded light data, and facilitating refocusing power and/or image resolution in images computed from the recorded light data. In one implementation, the separation is varied between zero and one focal length of the microlenses to respectively facilitate spatial and directional resolution (with increasing directional resolution, hence refocusing power, as the separation approaches one focal length).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Yi-Ren NG, Patrick M. Hanrahan, Mark A. Horowitz, Marc S. Levoy
  • Publication number: 20150319016
    Abstract: A signaling system is described. The signaling system comprises a transmit device, a receive device including a partial response receive circuit, and a signaling path coupling the transmit device and the receive device. The receive device observes an equalized signal from the signaling path, and includes circuitry to use feedback from the most recent previously resolved symbol to sample a currently incoming symbol. The transmit device equalizes transmit data to transmit the equalized signal, by applying weighting based on one or more data values not associated with the most recent previously resolved symbol value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Vladimir M. Stojanovic, Andrew C. Ho, Anthony Bessios, Bruno W. Garlepp, Grace Tsang, Mark A. Horowitz, Jared L. Zerbe, Jason C. Wei